Miners submit data sought by CEC

The mine lessees accused of violating various statutory regulations today submitted their responses, in writing, to the state Steel and Mines department on the data sought by the Supreme Court appointed Central Empowered Committee (CEC) looking into allegations of illegal mining activities.

“The lease holders of the mines today submitted document pertaining to the data sought by the CEC during their field visit. On the basis of these documents, we will compile the final report and submit it to the CEC,” said Deepak Mohanty, Mines Director, Odisha, after the meeting with the lease holders. The miners submitted their statements on the issues like encroachment, boundary dispute, environment protection act and forest conservation act violation and infringement of Rule 37 of Mineral Concession Rule (MCR). About 16 miners, including eight lessees on whom prima facie investigation is being conducted for violation of Rule-37, were present in the meeting.

The CEC had asked the state government to provide data related to mineral extraction and other details of the accused mine lessees. “We are hopeful to submit the report by July 21,” Mohanty said.

However Sarada mines, accused of violations of Rule-37, has sought more time for filing its response. One official said, the miner has requested them to submit its report by tomorrow. If the miner fails to submit the data within the time frame, the state government will submit the data available with it to the CEC, added the official. According to an earlier report of the state government, Sarada Mines Ltd, the lease holder of Thakurani mines near Barbil was selling its entire run of mine (ROM) iron ore to Jindal Steel & Power Ltd (JSPL) without any written agreement. Also, the iron sale by the lessee was at unacceptably low rates compared to the market price.

JSPL’s managing director Subrat Ratho and B K Mohanty lease holder of Uliburu mines, which is facing vigilance investigation over a Rs 1,800 crore  mining scam, were also present in the meeting.

The Mines Director informed that the state Forest and Environment department will today submit a detail report on the action taken against the miners accused of violating forest and environment rules.

Earlier this week, the CEC team had inspected 11 mines in Joda and Koira mining circles, during which they had found major discrepancies in data showed by mines leaseholders and the state government regarding lease boundary and mineral extraction.  Some of the lease holders even claimed ignorance about official proceedings initiated against them for forest and environment rule violations.

To clear the confusion, the CEC members have asked for more data from State Pollution Control Board, Forest department, Vigilance wing and Steel and Mines department of the state government before their meeting with accused leaseholders in New Delhi on July 23 and 24.